Furniture element forming convertible desk and bed

ABSTRACT

Furniture element forming convertible desk and bed This furniture element comprises a frame to which is linked a desk by link means in the form of a deformable parallelogram and arranged to keep the desk horizontal during its movement between its positions of use and non-use, a bed that moves rotation-wise about a horizontal pin between a vertical position of non-use and a horizontal position of use, and transmission means arranged to move the bed from its position of use to its position of non-use while the desk is being moved from its position of non-use to its position of use, and vice versa. The swivel pin of the bed moves vertically translation-wise relative to the frame of the furniture element between a bottom position close to the floor when the bed is in the position of non-use and a top position away from the floor when the bed is in the position of use.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a furniture element forming a bed and adesk.

This type of furniture element is convertible between a first positionof use of the desk and non-use of the bed and a second position of useof the bed and non-use of the desk.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Document EP 1 434 507 describes a furniture element comprising a frameon which is mounted a bed to pivot about a horizontal pin joined to thebed between a vertical position of non-use and a horizontal position ofuse. The furniture element comprises a desk linked to the frame of thelatter and to the bed by link means in the form of a deformableparallelogram and arranged to keep the desk horizontal while it is beingmoved between its horizontal position of use away from the floor and ahorizontal position of non-use close to the floor. The furniture elementalso comprises transmission means arranged to move the bed from itsposition of use to its position of non-use while the desk is being movedfrom its position of non-use to its position of use, and vice versa.

The furniture element described in this document provides for a more orless horizontal movement of the desk between its positions of use andnon-use. Thus, while the desk is being moved, the items on the latterremain fairly stable and are therefore not very likely to fall on thefloor or topple over. The result is that there is no need to remove theelements that are on the desk to use the furniture element as a bed oras a desk. Because of this, the conversion of the furniture element to abed or to a desk is simplified.

However, the fact that the bed is mounted to pivot on the frame of thefurniture element has the result that, in the position of non-use, thebed is away from the floor. The result is that the furniture element isvery bulky height-wise in the position of use of the desk.

This bulk is disadvantageous, particularly when there is a desire toprovide built-in shelves positioned above the desk and the bed.

Furthermore, the kinematics of moving the desk and the bed of this typeof furniture element limit the possible depth of the desk.

The present invention seeks to remedy these drawbacks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The technical problem on which the invention is based is therefore howto create a furniture element forming a convertible bed and desk thathas a simple structure, is very compact height-wise, while providing asatisfactory desk depth and being very safe to use.

To this end, the invention relates to a furniture element forming a deskand a bed, convertible between a first position for using the desk andnot using the bed and a second position for using the bed and not usingthe desk, the furniture element comprising a frame to which the desk islinked by link means in the form of a deformable parallelogrampositioned at at least one end of the desk and arranged to keep the deskhorizontal during its movement between the first and second positions,the bed moving rotation-wise about a horizontal pin between a verticalposition of non-use and a horizontal position of use, the furnitureelement comprising transmission means arranged to move the bed from itsposition of use to its position of non-use while the desk is being movedfrom its position of non-use to its position of use, and vice versa,wherein the rotation pin of the bed moves vertically translation-wiserelative to the frame of the furniture element between a bottom positionclose to the floor when the bed is in the position of non-use and a topposition away from the floor when the bed is in the position of use.

Thus, given the vertical mobility translation-wise of the rotation pinof the bed, in its position of non-use, the bed is in a verticalposition close to the floor. The result is therefore that the bed haslittle bulk height-wise when the latter is in the position of non-use.Because of this, the furniture element according to the invention isvery compact height-wise.

Advantageously, the transmission means comprise a tab, one end of whichis joined to a moving element of the deformable parallelogram, and theother end of which is mounted to pivot about a horizontal pin joined tothe bed.

The joined link between the tab and a moving element of the deformableparallelogram and the pivoting link between the tab and the bed makes itpossible to provide for a movement of the bed between its positions ofuse and non-use while the desk is being moved between its positions ofnon-use and use.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the link means inthe form of a deformable parallelogram comprise first and secondparallel rods, the ends of which are respectively mounted to pivot onthe one hand about horizontal pins joined to the desk and on the otherhand about horizontal pins joined to the frame of the furniture element,and one end of the tab is joined to one of the first and second rods.

Advantageously, the swivel pins of the first and second rods joined tothe desk and joined to the frame of the furniture element are positionedin two parallel planes.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the twoplanes containing the swivel pins of the first and second rods arevertical.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the furnitureelement comprises a third rod, parallel and offset relative to the firstand second rods, one end of which is mounted to pivot about a horizontalpin joined to the desk and the other end of which is mounted to pivotabout a horizontal pin joined to the frame of the furniture element.

The presence of this third rod ensures that the desk remains perfectlystable on the one hand in its positions of use and non-use, and on theother hand, while bit is being moved between these two positions.

Thus, while the desk is being used or moved, the items resting on thelatter remain perfectly stable and are not therefore likely to fall tothe floor or topple over.

Furthermore, this third rod enables the desk to support heavy loads, forexample the weight of two people, when it is in the position of use.

Advantageously, the rotation pin of the bed that moves verticallytranslation-wise comprises a roller guided translation-wise in avertical guideway joined to the frame of the furniture element.

Preferably, the furniture element comprises a system for automaticallylocking the furniture element in the first and second positions.

Thus, the user does not need to manually lock the bed or the desk in itsposition of use. Because of this, the risks associated with the userforgetting to lock the bed or the desk are eliminated. The automaticlocking system therefore provides for a perfectly safe use of thefurniture element.

Advantageously, the locking system comprises a locking element mountedto pivot about a pin joined to the bed between a locking position and anunlocking position, the locking element comprising a first notchintended to cooperate with a projecting portion joined to the desk inorder to lock the desk when the desk is in its position of use and thelocking element in its locking position, and a second notch intended tocooperate with a projecting portion joined to the frame of the furnitureelement in order to lock the bed when the bed is in its position of useand the locking element in its locking position.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the locking systemcomprises a return means intended to define two stable balance positionsof the locking element, these two positions corresponding to the lockingand unlocking positions of the locking element.

Advantageously, the furniture element comprises an end stop intended tocooperate with the locking element while the bed is being moved in orderto automatically switch the locking element from its unlocking positionto its locking position.

According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the lockingsystem comprises a handle for manually unlocking the locking element.

Advantageously, the furniture element comprises a pneumatic jack, oneend of which is mounted to pivot about a horizontal pin joined to thetab and the other end of which is mounted to pivot about a horizontalpin joined to the frame of the furniture element.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the furnitureelement comprises motorization means arranged to allow for a motorizedmovement of the bed or of the desk between its positions of use or ofnon-use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In any case, the invention will be clearly understood from thedescription that follows, given with reference to the appendeddiagrammatic drawing representing, by way of nonlimiting example, avariant of embodiment of this furniture element.

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of the furniture element in a firstposition.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the furniture element in the position of FIG.1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a detail A of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the furniture element in asecond position.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the furniture element in the position of FIG.4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a detail B of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the furniture element in a thirdposition.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the furniture element in a fourth position.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged view of a detail C of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a partial perspective view of the furniture element in afifth position.

FIG. 11 is a side view of the furniture element in a sixth position.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged view of a detail D of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1 to 12 represent a furniture element 2 forming a desk and bedthat is convertible between a first position of use of the desk andnon-use of the bed and a second position of use of the bed and non-useof the desk.

The furniture element 2 comprises a metal frame 3 formed by twoidentical vertical side structures 4 linked to each other by threecoupling crossmembers 5.

Each side structure 4 comprises a frame in the form of an inverted U 6to which are fixed a bottom crossmember 7, an intermediate crossmember 8and a top crossmember 9.

The furniture element comprises a desk 11, the side edges of which arelinked to the side structures of the frame by link means comprising twodeformable parallelograms 12 arranged to keep the desk horizontal whileit is being moved between its position of use and non-use, shownrespectively in FIGS. 1-2 and 8.

It should be noted that the panel of the desk is not shown in thefigures for reasons of clarity.

Each deformable parallelogram 12 comprises first and second rods 13 and14 that are parallel and identical, the ends of which are respectivelymounted to pivot on the one hand about horizontal pins 15, 16 joined tothe desk and on the other hand about horizontal pins 17, 18 joined tothe respective side structure of the frame.

The swivel pins 15, 16 of the first and second rods joined to the deskare provided on a first L-shaped part 19 fixed to the respective sideedge of the desk and positioned vertically to each other. The swivelpins 17, 18 of the first and second rods joined to the respective sidestructure of the frame are provided on a second L-shaped part 21 fixedto the intermediate crossmember 8 of the respective side structure 4 andpositioned vertically to each other.

The furniture element 2 also comprises a bed 22, the side edges of whichare respectively linked to a horizontal rotation pin A mounted to movevertically translation-wise relative to the respective side structure 4of the frame between a bottom position close to the floor and a topposition away from the floor. Each rotation pin A of the bed comprises apivot roller 38 guided translation-wise in a vertical guideway 23 joinedto the bottom and intermediate crossmembers of the respective sidestructure. In order to ensure that the guideway 23 is kept perfectlystable, the latter is also fixed to the frame 6 by a reinforcing piece24.

Thus, the bed moves rotation-wise about two horizontal pins A joined tothe bed between a vertical position of non-use shown in FIGS. 1-2 and ahorizontal position of use shown in FIG. 8.

With the translation component, in the position of non-use, the bed ismore or less in contact with the floor and projects only very littleabove the desk. The result is therefore that the bed has very littlebulk height-wise.

The side edges of the bed 22 respectively comprise a stabilizing roller25 intended to cooperate with the side walls of the respective guideway23 in the position of non-use of the bed in order to ensure that the bedremains perfectly stable in this position of non-use.

The furniture element comprises transmission means arranged to move thebed 22 from its position of use to its position of non-use while thedesk 11 is being moved from its position of non-use to its position ofuse, and vice versa. These transmission means comprise two tabs 26 eachlinking the bed 22 to one of the deformable parallelograms 12. One endof each tab 26 is mounted to pivot about a horizontal pin 27 joined to aside edge of the bed and the other end of this tab is joined to thefirst rod 13 of the link means.

The furniture element comprises, at the level of each side structure 4,a third rod 28 parallel and offset relative to the first and second rods13, 14, one end of which is mounted to pivot about a horizontal pin 29joined to the first L-shaped part 19 and the other end of which ismounted to pivot about a horizontal pin 31 joined to the second L-shapedpart 21. The swivel pins 29, 31 of the third rod are respectivelypositioned horizontal to the swivel pins 16, 18 of the first rod 13.

Furthermore, the furniture element comprises, at the level of each sidestructure, a system 32 for automatically locking the furniture elementin the first and second positions.

Each locking system 32 comprises a U-section locking element 33 mountedto pivot about a pin 34 joined to a side edge of the bed between alocking position represented in particular in FIG. 3 and 9 and anunlocking position represented in particular in FIGS. 6 and 10. Eachlocking element comprises on the one hand a first notch (not shown inthe figures) intended to cooperate with a first rod 35 projecting fromthe desk in order to lock the desk when the desk is in its position ofuse and the locking element 33 in its locking position, and on the otherhand, a second notch 36 intended to cooperate with a second rod 37projecting from the intermediate crossmember 8 of the respective sidestructure in order to lock the bed when the bed is in its position ofuse and the locking element in its locking position.

It should be noted that each locking system comprises a return spring 39arranged to define two stable balance positions of the respectivelocking element, these two positions corresponding to the locking andunlocking positions of the locking element.

Each locking system further comprises a manual unlocking handle 41joined to the respective locking element arranged to enable a user tomove the locking element 33 from its locking position to its unlockingposition.

Each locking element 33 comprises a locking roller 42 arranged tocooperate with the top crossmember 9 of the respective side structure 4while the bed is being moved between its positions of use and of non-usein order to automatically switch the locking element from its unlockingposition to its locking position.

The furniture element also comprises, at the level of each sidestructure, a pneumatic jack 43, one end of which is mounted to pivotabout a horizontal pin 44 joined to the respective tab 26 and the otherend of which is mounted to pivot about a horizontal pin 45 joined to therespective side structure 4.

The use of the furniture element will now be described.

In the position of use of the desk 11, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, thebed 22 is in its vertical position of non-use and the locking elements33 are in their locking position. Because of this, it is impossible tomove the desk relative to the bed. The user can therefore use the deskand lean on the latter.

When the user wants to use the furniture element as a bed, he must firstunlock the desk.

For this, he operates the handles 41 of the two locking systems 32 so asto pivot each locking element 33 into its unlocking position, as shownin FIGS. 4 to 6. It should be noted that each locking element is held inits unlocking position by the respective return spring 39.

The switching of each locking element 33 to its unlocking position freesthe first notch of each locking element of the respective first rod 35.The result is that the desk is no longer locked, it can therefore bemoved from its position of use to its position of non-use.

In order to move the desk into its position of non-use, the user exertsa downward thrust on the top face of the desk. This causes the rods 13,14 of each deformable parallelogram 12 to pivot, together with the thirdrods 28 about pins provided on the first and second respective L-shapedparts 19, 21.

The pivoting of these different rods causes the tabs 26 to pivot aboutpins joined to the bed and the pneumatic jacks 43 to be compressed. Itshould be noted that the two tabs 26 are linked to each other by acrossmember 46 arranged to synchronize the movements of each tab.

The pivoting of each tab 26 initially causes the guide and stabilizingrollers 25 to slide vertically upward in the respective guideway 23, sofreeing each stabilizing roller from the respective guideway, and,secondly, causes the guide roller to slide vertically upward while thebed pivots about the pin A of the guide roller.

At this moment, the mattress 47 is held on the bed by means of foursecuring systems 48 positioned at the four corners of the bed.

As shown in FIG. 7, continuing the lowering of the desk 11 and thereforethe pivoting of the bed 22 causes the locking roller 42 of each lockingsystem to come into contact with the top crossmember 9 of the respectiveside structure 4 and cooperate with the latter to automatically returnthe respective locking element 33 to its locking position with the helpof the return spring 39.

When the desk reaches its position of non-use, as shown in FIGS. 8 and9, the bed is in its horizontal position of use and the second notch 36of each locking element cooperates with the respective second rod 37 inorder to automatically lock the bed.

The user can therefore use the furniture element as a bed without havingto physically move the locking elements 33 to their locking position.

In this position of use of the bed, each unlocking roller 42 bears onthe respective intermediate crossmember 8 in order to ensure that thebed remains stable. Furthermore, in this position of the bed, eachpneumatic jack 43 is fully compressed.

When the user wants to use the furniture element as a desk again, hemust first unlock the bed.

For this, he manually operates the unlocking handles 41 of the twolocking systems 32 so as to pivot the locking elements 33 into theirunlocking position.

As shown in FIG. 10, the switching of each locking element into itsunlocked position frees the second notch 36 of each locking element fromthe respective second rod 37. The result is that the bed is no longerlocked, it can therefore be moved from its position of use to itsposition of non-use.

In order to move the bed to its position of non-use, the user lifts thefront edge of the bed, this lifting being facilitated by thedecompression of each pneumatic jack 43. This causes the two tabs 26,and therefore the different rods, to pivot. The result of this is on theone hand that each guide roller slides vertically downward in therespective guideway 23 and the bed pivots about the pins A of the guiderollers, and on the other hand, the desk is raised.

As more particularly shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, continuing the movementof the bed to its position of non-use causes the locking roller 42 ofeach locking system 32 to come into contact with the top crossmember 9of the respective side structure and cooperate with the latter in orderto automatically return the respective locking element 33 to its lockingposition with the help of the return spring 39.

When the bed reaches its position of non-use, each stabilizing roller 25returns to the respective guideway 23 in order to ensure that the bedremains stable, the first notch of each locking element cooperates withthe first respective rod 35 in order to ensure that the desk isautomatically locked, and the desk 11 is once again in its horizontalposition of use.

The user can therefore use the furniture element as a desk, withouthaving to manually move the locking elements to their locking position.

As can be seen from the above, the invention provides a majorimprovement to the existing technique by providing a furniture elementforming a convertible bed and desk that has a simple structure, ishighly compact height-wise, and provides a satisfactory desk depth and ahigh degree of safety in use.

Obviously, the invention is not limited to the embodiment of thisfurniture element described above by way of example, on the contrary itencompasses all variants of embodiment.

Thus, in particular, the furniture element could comprise motorizationmeans arranged to allow for a motorized movement of the bed or of thedesk between its positions of use and non-use. Advantageously, thefurniture element is designed so that the motorization means are verysimple to install, without modifying the structure of the furnitureelement or of the link or transmission means. For example, themotorization means could comprise an electric motor rotating a wormscrew positioned horizontally in the guideway 23 and blockedtranslation-wise relative to the latter, the worm screw drivingtranslation-wise a nut that is locked rotation-wise relative to theguideway, the nut being linked to the rotation pin A of the bed.

Furthermore, the frame 3, the frame structures of the bed and of thedesk could be made of steel, aluminum or wood.

Moreover, the side structures 4 could be finished with panels made ofwood, plastic material, composite material or any other material.

According to another alternative of the invention, each side structureof the furniture element could be formed solely by a panel made of wood,plastic material, composite or other material. In this case, theguideway 23 would be provided directly in the panel, and two guidegrooves would also be provided in the panel in order to guide thelocking roller 42 and the stabilizing roller 25.

The figures show a single bed positioned longitudinally relative to thefurniture element. However, it would be possible to provide a double bedpositioned transversally relative to the furniture element. In thiscase, a leg assembly could be provided more or less level with the freeend of the bed in order to ensure that the double bed remains perfectlystable in the position of use. It should be noted that the leg assemblycould form a shelving unit in the position of non-use of the bed.

1. A furniture element forming a desk and a bed, convertible between afirst position for using the desk and not using the bed and a secondposition for using the bed and not using the desk, the furniture elementcomprising a frame to which the desk is linked by link means in the formof a deformable parallelogram positioned at at least one end of the deskand arranged to keep the desk horizontal during its movement between thefirst and second positions, the bed moving rotation-wise about ahorizontal pin between a vertical position of non-use and a horizontalposition of use, transmission means arranged to move the bed from itsposition of use to its position of non-use while the desk is being movedfrom its position of non-use to its position of use, and vice versa,wherein the rotation pin of the bed moves vertically translation-wiserelative to the frame of the furniture element between a bottom positionclose to a floor when the bed is in the position of non-use and a topposition away from the floor when the bed is in the position of use. 2.The furniture element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmissionmeans comprise a tab, one end of which is joined to a moving element ofthe deformable parallelogram, and the other end of which is mounted topivot about a horizontal pin joined to the bed.
 3. The furniture elementas claimed in claim 2, wherein the link means in the form of adeformable parallelogram comprise first and second parallel rods, theends of which are respectively mounted to pivot on the one hand abouthorizontal pins joined to the desk and on the other hand abouthorizontal pins joined to the frame of the furniture element, andwherein one end of the tab is joined to one of the first and secondrods.
 4. The furniture element as claimed in claim 3, wherein the pinsof the first and second rods joined to the desk and joined to the frameof the furniture element are positioned in two parallel planes.
 5. Thefurniture element as claimed in claim 4, wherein the two planescontaining the pins of the first and second rods are vertical.
 6. Thefurniture element as claimed claim 3, which comprises a third rod,parallel and offset relative to the first and second rods, one end ofwhich is mounted to pivot about a horizontal pin joined to the desk andthe other end of which is mounted to pivot about a horizontal pin joinedto the frame of the furniture element.
 7. The furniture element asclaimed in claims 1, wherein the rotation pin of the bed that movesvertically translation-wise comprises a roller guided translation-wisein a vertical guideway joined to the frame of the furniture element. 8.The furniture element as claimed claim 1, which comprises a system forautomatically locking the furniture element in the first and secondpositions.
 9. The furniture element as claimed in claim 8, wherein thelocking system comprises a locking element mounted to pivot about a pinjoined to the bed between a locking position and an unlocking position,the locking element comprising a first notch intended to cooperate witha projecting portion joined to the desk in order to lock the desk whenthe desk is in its position of use and the locking element in itslocking position, and a second notch intended to cooperate with aprojecting portion joined to the frame of the furniture element in orderto lock the bed when the bed is in its position of use and the lockingelement in its locking position.
 10. The furniture element as claimed inclaim 9, wherein the locking system comprises a return means intended todefine two stable balance positions of the locking element, these twopositions corresponding to the locking and unlocking positions of thelocking element.
 11. The furniture element as claimed in claims 9,wherein the furniture element comprises an end stop intended tocooperate with the locking element while the bed is being moved in orderto automatically switch the locking element from its unlocking positionto its locking position.
 12. The furniture element as claimed in claim8, wherein the locking system comprises a handle for manually unlockingthe locking element.
 13. The furniture element as claimed in claim 2,which comprises a pneumatic jack, one end of which is mounted to pivotabout a horizontal pin joined to the tab and the other end of which ismounted to pivot about a horizontal pin joined to the frame of thefurniture element.
 14. The furniture element as claimed in claim 1,which comprises motorization means arranged to allow for a motorizedmovement of the bed or of the desk between its positions of use ornon-use.